BENJAMIN ALLEN ARTICLE

1824 First Providence City Directory
Benj. Allen, grocer, 3 Broad

1826 Prov Directory
         Benj. Allen, grocer, 2 & 94 [sic] Broad (error - should be 2 & 4)
         Joseph Belcher, 10 Chestnut ( no mention of Joseph Belcher dealing in
   hardware in 1826 )

1828 Prov Directory
        Allen & Belcher, hardware & cutlery, 4 Broad
        Benj. Allen, grocer, 2 & 94 [sic] Broad (error - should be 2 & 4)
        Joseph Belcher, 4 Broad, 10 Chestnut ( Joseph's trade is not given but his
        working address is the same as "Allen & Belcher" )

Note: It appears that Benj. Allen has taken his 2 storefront location ( 2 & 4 Broad St.), and turned it into a combination grocery and hardware business; first with a partner Joseph Belcher, and later by himself. (see BELCHER BROS.)

1830 Prov Directory
        Benj. Allen & Co, hardware dealers, 4 Broad
        Benj. Allen, grocer & hardware, 2 Broad, Pawt. Turnpike
        Green & Belcher, hardware dealers, 11 Broad (see BELCHER BROS.)

1832 Prov Directory
        Benj. Allen & Co, hardware dealers, 4 Broad
        Benj. Allen, hardware, 2 Broad, Pawtucket Turnpike
        Joseph Belcher, hardware, 11 Broad ( see BELCHER BROS. )

1836-1839 Prov Directory
Benj. Allen & Co, hardware dealers, 48 Weybosset
Benj. Allen, hardware dealers, 48 Weybosset, Pawtucket Ave.

1829 Providence Daily Advertiser - In the Dec 2, 1829 issue,"Benj. Allen & Co" mentions woodworking tools, including bench planes and an assortment of molding tools of "Smith's make."

It seems clear that although there are examples of wood molding planes having only the " ALLEN & Co." stamp on the nose, that Benjamin Allen did not make his own wood molding planes. As a grocer turned hardware dealer, he likely had unstamped planes made by others, then marked them using his own stamp. Examples have been found where Benjamin over-stamped "ALLEN & Co" on planes made and stamped by a known planemaker. Example: Two planes made by J.R.Gale, a single cope and an adjustable sash , both over-struck with the "Allen & Co." stamp. Benjamin Allen's store was about a block away from J. R. Gale's " Plane Manufactory" at 77 Weybosset.

It's possible that Benj. Allen did not over-stamp the planes he sold until after 1829, as in that year he mentions selling planes of "Smith's make". After making such a distinction as to the line of planes he was carrying, it seems unlikely he would over-stamp them.